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THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE
The Byzantine Empire
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Fall of Rome – half fall
Civil war ravaged the western half of the Empire, the
eastern half of the empire was pretty stable.
So Emperor Constantine decided to create a new
capital at the former Greek city of Byzantium, which he
renamed Constantinople (present-day Istanbul).
When the western half of the Roman Empire fell in 476,
the Eastern half survived and thrived. This Eastern half
of the Roman Empire later became known as the
Byzantine Empire.
Geographic Location
Growth of Empire
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Emperors wanted the glory of Rome to live on.
Emperor Justinian led the revival
Justinian Code
Theodora
Belisarius
Greek Fire
What kind of Government do you think the
Byzantine Empire had?
Government
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Centralized government
Political power
Social power
Economic Power
Christian Church
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Byzantine’s did not recognize pope’s power like in
the West.
Icons
Iconoclast Controversy
Heresy
Excommunication
Eastern Orthodox Church
Culture
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Constantinople
Center for trade/spreading of ideas
Scholars served to preserve much of the Greek and
Roman advancements and teachings
Cyril and Methodius
Mosaics
Hagia Sophia
Decline of the Byzantine Empire
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Invasions and wars after Justinian died in 565 A.D.
Seljuk turks invaded
The Byzantine Empire finally collapsed in 1453 due
to invasions by the Ottomans, but fortunately by
that time it had served its important function as a
bridge to the past and to the achievements of the
Muslims
Recap
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The Byzantine Empire served two very important
historical functions:
Preservation of Roman and Greek Culture
Cultural Diffusion - Not only did the Byzantine help
preserve Roman and Greek culture and Christianity but
the Empire also spread these ideas to other parts of the
world.